Syria steps up campaign of intimidation

SYRIA

Elizabeth A. Kennedy and Zeina Karam, Associated Press

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Photo: -, AFP/Getty Images

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RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - AFP IS USING PICTURES FROM AN ALTERNATIVE THIRD PARTY SOURCE, THEREFORE IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIGITAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PICTURE'S EDITORIAL CONTENT WHICH CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED
Syrian anti-government protesters hold up loaves of bread as they protest in the northern Syrian port and oil terminal of Banias, on May 3, 2011. Anti-regime protesters called for permanent sit-ins across Syria from May 4 as authorities were said to have arrested more than 1,000 people in their latest crackdown on demonstrations. less

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - AFP IS USING PICTURES FROM AN ALTERNATIVE THIRD PARTY SOURCE, THEREFORE IT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ... more

Photo: -, AFP/Getty Images

Syria steps up campaign of intimidation

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(05-04) 04:00 PDT Beirut --

Facing international condemnation for its bloody crackdown on protesters, the Syrian government is expanding an intimidation campaign to keep people off the streets, according to human rights activists.

They report a sharp escalation in arbitrary arrests and unexplained disappearances - including people being plucked from their homes and offices in the middle of the day. One prominent activist in an upscale Damascus neighborhood was reportedly bundled into a car after being beaten by security officers.

"Syrian cities have witnessed in the past few days an insane escalation by authorities who are arresting anyone with the potential to stage protests and demonstrations," Ammar Qurabi, who heads the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, said Tuesday.

"The arrests have transformed Syria into a large prison," he said, estimating that more than 1,000 people had been detained since Saturday in raids on houses.

The stepped-up campaign will have its first major test Friday - the main day for protests in the Arab world. But there were signs the protests will continue, with thousands of people gathering Tuesday in the coastal town of Banias, demanding freedom and urging the demise of Syria's authoritarian regime, two witnesses said.

"So far, it is a peaceful protest," one person said, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals. "Some people are carrying loaves of bread and baby's milk because our city is under siege and we can't come or go. ... We are running out of supplies."

President Bashar Assad is determined to crush the 6-week-old revolt, the gravest challenge to his family's 40-year dynasty. Assad inherited power from his father in 2000, and has maintained close ties with Iran and Islamic militant groups such as Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Rights groups say at least 545 Syrians have been killed since the uprising began in the blockaded southern city of Daraa, spreading quickly across the nation of 23 million people.

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Most of the unrest erupts after Muslim prayers on Fridays, and the regime's response has become increasingly brutal. Now, instead of waiting for the weekly protests, security forces are using the midweek lull to send an intimidating message.

Syria blames the unrest on a foreign conspiracy and "terrorist groups" that it says have taken advantage of protests.

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